Mazatlán is a great place to visit or to live being both a beach resort town and a working middle class city. Most of you will have spent your time in the Golden Zone or El Centro when you weren’t lounging on the beaches, but there is another part of town to the north that is fast becoming a great place to visit – Cerritos. When I bought my condominium out here a little over two years ago, most of my friends said: “Are you crazy? That is way out of town and there is nothing there except a few condos and the beach.” That was true. However, the way out of town was actually only 10 or 15 minutes by car to the Golden Zone and, in heavy traffic, 25 minutes to El Centro. In addition there was a good bus service during the day (unfortunately the old buses which come out to the end of Sabalo Cerritos stop about 6:30pm). I was delighted to be here where I could watch the pelicans, great frigates and even, during snowbird season, three pair of turkey vultures that rode the airwaves close to my living room windows. Sometimes I even got to see a pod of dolphins playing along the surf line. Things have really been changing out here during the last year. Mazatlán has been discovered and there is a great deal of development going on, especially in Cerritos. Sabalo Cerritos goes north from the circle after the second bridge near the Marina and ends at Point Cerritos and Playa Bruja (Witch’s Beach). There are eating places, surfing, riding, bird watching, etc. - activities to fit most interests. This month I will tell you a bit about the end of the road. At the traffic circle where you can go straight to the

end of the road or right towards MazAgua Water Park and the Emerald Bay Resort, you will see a large welcome sign. Go straight through the circle and on the right you will see the entrance to CIAD which is adjacent to the Estero del Yugo. This estuary consists of a lake with saline water and another with sweet water bordered by the tropical dry forest species that make it unique. There are walking tours offered and special bird watching tours. Arrangements can be made through Sandra Guido at 988-01-57 or 988-01-58, email guido@victoria.ciad.mx. Further on you reach the end of the road and Cerritos Point. There are two large palapa restaurants on the beach servicing a variety of fish and drinks. A very recent addition is a short strip mall consisting of, at this time, six to eight t-shirt/souvenir shops and two small restaurants. Prices are very reasonable. As you start south again, at the end of this little mall, there is the new RV Park, which at the moment can accommodate approximately 50 RVs with construction continuing so that the final number should be approximately 75 RVs. If you turn right here you end up at Playa Bruja and the Playa Bruja restaurant. Good seafood and drinks overlooking a good surfing beach. This restaurant has been here a long time. As you come back out to Sabalo Cerritos, you will see Ginger’s Bilingual Horses on your right at the corner. Ginger has eight horses for the public. She charges US$25 per hour and many of the rides are along the beach. Ginger’s two stepsons guide the groups and it is a wonderful way to spend and hour or two. Do come visit us. As you see there are things for every interest. Hope to see you soon!